Oenothein health benefit by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Oenothein is a tannin found in a number of herbs.

Antifungal activity of oenothein
Oenothein B interferes with the cell morphology of the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis,the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, the most prevalent human systemic mycosis in Latin America.

Some herbs that have oenothein
Epilobii angustifolii herb (fireweed) contains oenothein B
Eucalyptus consideniana and Eucalyptus viminalis
Eugenia uniflora has oenothein B
Myrtus communis herb has oenothein B, eugeniflorin D, tellimagrandins, two related polyphenolic compounds gallic acid quinic acid 3,5-di-O-gallate, and several myricetin glycosides.
Willow herb has oenothein B, which appears to have 5-alpha-reductase inhibitory activity.

Oenothein and 5alpha reductase activity
Inhibition of 5 alpha-reductase and aromatase by the ellagitannins oenothein A and oenothein B from Epilobium species.
Planta Med. 1997 April. Ducrey B, Marston A, Göhring S, Hartmann RW, Hostettmann K. Institut de Pharmacognosie et Phytochimie, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland.
Species of the genus Epilobium (Onagraceae) have been investigated for their activity against 5 alpha-reductase and aromatase, two enzymes which are involved in the aetiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Activity-guided fractionation has led to the identification of two macrocyclic ellagitannins, oenothein A and oenothein B, as the main constituents responsible for the inhibition of the two enzymes. Quantitation of oenothein B in 10 different species of Epilobium has shown that amounts of up to 14% in the crude plant extracts are possible.
 

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